Salvē!
This episode of Londinium Chronicles was broadcast live yesterday on YouTube, X, and here on Substack.
Join us this Sunday at 6PM EST on Substack for another live broadcast.
Today, we are turning to something you previewed during our conversation on air last Friday. You made a guest appearance to talk about the American way of war—and how it has been failing America, again and again, since 1945.
Germanicus has brought forth themes that bridge his favorites, the Greeks, with his deep knowledge of the Romans. I have done what I can to prepare for this over the last few days by reading and talking to a classicist about Sparta and Athens—the two big dogs stepping into the ring to fight. But there were other city-states in Greece, as you know, that entered into that same contest, aligning with either Athens or Sparta. We are talking about the fifth and fourth centuries BCE, right before Rome emerged as a global power. Rome existed, having shed its kingships by that point, but the authority for classical storytelling remained squarely within the contest between Athens, Sparta, and to a certain extent, the Persians. It is a joy to read about how the Persians manipulated those Greek cities.
What is so old-fashioned about this is that it is the exact same story we see playing out today?
Watch the full conversation above, or listen to an audio version below:
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